I enjoyed this dialogue between Doug Wilson and Mark Driscoll, two controversial pastors who I happen to appreciate. Please, rather than commenting about why you don’t like either of them, just listen to what they’re saying here and judge it on its own merit. THEN I welcome your comments. :)
I came to Christ at an uncool church (not the one in the photo, but built in the same era). Coming from the family of a tavern owner, and never having been part of a church, it was strange to hear the way people spoke, how they dressed (the men wore suits and ties) and what they sang, including occasional songs in Swedish.
We all know that sometimes things can be difficult in churches. I’ve gone through it, and so have most of you. I experienced it when I was a pastor for fourteen years, and I’ve experienced it in the twenty-two years since.
Twenty-three years ago when I was going to jail for civil disobedience, a pastor told me he believed Christians shouldn’t go to jail. I told him I thought the day would come when he would go to jail, not for refusing to go along with abortion, but for refusing to go along with homosexuality.
I love and wholeheartedly agree with this blog post from pastor and author Ray Ortlund. (Check out his blog.) Sure, we’ve all had our bad church experiences. Me too. But I tire of the unending criticisms of local churches, and the cynicism about the body of Christ.
In his excellent (though unlikely titled) book Hot Tub Religion, J. I. Packer asks “What would a work of divine reformation in our churches today look like?” Great question, and I loved the six answers Packer—one of my all- time favorite people—offers.
The recent report of Billy Graham being taken to the hospital with the possibility of pneumonia prompted me to think of one of Billy’s closest friends, who is ten years older.
In this 8-1/2 minute video from last year's Clarus Conference, my friend Wayne Grudem and I share about what is encouraging and what is discouraging about the American church.
Yes, local churches are very imperfect. They have problems. There are attitude issues. Leaders make mistakes. But God is doing a work. Instead of withdrawing from the local church, why not invest yourself in it, and commit yourself to humbly serving the body of Christ and helping people?
The Courageous movie opens in theaters this Friday, September 30. Please pray for the impact of the movie and go see it this opening weekend, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The more people show up opening weekend, the longer it will stay in the theaters and the more lives it will touch!
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